---
title: "35 Right now Quotes By Anna Banks"
description: "35 Right now quotes by Anna Banks. Plus more from Anna Banks and more Right now sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/anna-banks-1453_drugged_i-need-you-to-be-serious-right-now-proba_2624241.png"
---

> [“I need you to be serious right now.” “Probably you shouldn’t have drugged me, then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-need-you-to-be-serious-right-now-probably-you-shouldn-t-have-2/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/anna-banks-1453_drugged_i-need-you-to-be-serious-right-now-proba_2624241.png)

> [“I nod"Maybe.But I'm pretty sure mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend.Especially not back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-nod-maybe-but-i-m-pretty-sure-mom-won-t-consent-to-a-field-trip/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/anna-banks-1453_field-trip_i-nod-maybe-but-i-m-pretty-sure-mom-won_825684.jpg)

> [“His response right now wouldn't win his brother the support he needs as a new king-and it just might push his father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/his-response-right-now-wouldn-t-win-his-brother-the-support-he-needs/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/anna-banks-1453_parenting_his-response-right-now-wouldn-t-win-his_1270419.png)

> [“But the bigger part of me remembers what my dad taught me about the undertow when he was trying to coax me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/but-the-bigger-part-of-me-remembers-what-my-dad-taught-me-about-the/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/anna-banks-1453_right-now_but-the-bigger-part-of-me-remembers-what_2520066.png)

> [“Now, years later, I can translate that lesson into: safe isn’t always better than sorry. Sometimes you need sorry to appreciate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/now-years-later-i-can-translate-that-lesson-into-safe-isn-t-always/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/anna-banks-1453_right-now_now-years-later-i-can-translate-that-les_1009282.png)

> [“Sweet pea, what did you expect?" "Something other than that." "Well, you shouldn't have. We human girls are a bit feistier than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/sweet-pea-what-did-you-expect-something-other-than-that-well-you/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/anna-banks-1453_gaze_sweet-pea-what-did-you-expect-something_1323725.png)

> [“It matters, Emma." He grabs my hand and pulls me to him again. "Tell me right now. Do you care for me?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/it-matters-emma-he-grabs-my-hand-and-pulls-me-to-him-again-tell-me/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/anna-banks-1453_cell-phone_it-matters-emma-he-grabs-my-hand-and-pul_302555.png)

> [“You mean you to tell me you don't eat fish?" Rayna barks. "I told you, Galen! How many times did I tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/you-mean-you-to-tell-me-you-don-t-eat-fish-rayna-barks-i-told-you/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/anna-banks-1453_oh-well_you-mean-you-to-tell-me-you-don-t-eat-fi_408271.png)

> [“I hope you were going to come pry your sister off my back," Paca clips as Rayna swims up. "She's quite rude."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-hope-you-were-going-to-come-pry-your-sister-off-my-back-paca-clips/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/anna-banks-1453_right-now_i-hope-you-were-going-to-come-pry-your-s_2526589.png)

> [“She already caused a scene with the repairmen who came to fix the shattered-by-Toraf bay window in my living room yesterday. Sure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/she-already-caused-a-scene-with-the-repairmen-who-came-to-fix-the/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/anna-banks-1453_first-place_she-already-caused-a-scene-with-the-repa_1077988.jpg)

> [“I need you to be serious right now.” “Probably you shouldn’t have drugged me, then.” She rolls her eyes and waves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-need-you-to-be-serious-right-now-probably-you-shouldn-t-have/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/anna-banks-1453_drugged_i-need-you-to-be-serious-right-now-proba_1776862.jpg)

> [“But...you're not passing out, you're just sleeping? There's a difference." I yawn again. "Just sleep. Maybe I just need a nap." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/but-you-re-not-passing-out-you-re-just-sleeping-there-s-a-difference/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/anna-banks-1453_right-now_but-you-re-not-passing-out-you-re-just-s_867142.jpg)

> [“Hey! Let my little sister go!” This almost stupefies Don into releasing the rope a second time, but good ole Dad catches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/hey-let-my-little-sister-go-this-almost-stupefies-don-into-releasing/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/anna-banks-1453_little-sister_hey-let-my-little-sister-go-this-almost_872757.jpg)

> [“The list of correlations to that night is as long as the Jersey coast. And so is the list of reasons I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/the-list-of-correlations-to-that-night-is-as-long-as-the-jersey-coast/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/anna-banks-1453_day-night_the-list-of-correlations-to-that-night-i_470586.jpg)

> [“Mark swings his own door open and meets us by the tailgate. "Why don't we ask Emma who she's coming with? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/mark-swings-his-own-door-open-and-meets-us-by-the-tailgate-why-don-t/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/anna-banks-1453_best-friend_mark-swings-his-own-door-open-and-meets_216578.jpg)

> [“Galen picking you up for school?" "No, I'm driving myself." Vinegar turns to acid. Sure, it's irritating to take a lukewarm shower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/galen-picking-you-up-for-school-no-i-m-driving-myself-vinegar-turns/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/anna-banks-1453_enough-time_galen-picking-you-up-for-school-no-i-m-d_2355977.png)

> [“As soon as she releases me, Galen grabs my hand and I don’t even have time to gasp before he snatches me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/as-soon-as-she-releases-me-galen-grabs-my-hand-and-i-don-t-even-have/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/anna-banks-1453_first-kiss_as-soon-as-she-releases-me-galen-grabs-m_152408.jpg)

> [“I didn't have a choice." "Are you saying...What are you saying?" Is he... could he be talking about me? He runs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-didn-t-have-a-choice-are-you-saying-what-are-you-saying-is-he-could/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/anna-banks-1453_atlantic-city_i-didn-t-have-a-choice-are-you-saying-wh_2586598.jpg)

> [“Then Toraf opens the passenger side door… Wait. That’s not Toraf. I’ve never seen this man before, yet he’s eerily familiar. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/then-toraf-opens-the-passenger-side-door-wait-that-s-not-toraf-i-ve/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/anna-banks-1453_every-step_then-toraf-opens-the-passenger-side-door_573555.jpg)

> [“Catching my breath, I lean against the front of the car and focus on the individual blades of grass hedging my flip-flop,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/catching-my-breath-i-lean-against-the-front-of-the-car-and-focus-on/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/anna-banks-1453_far-distance_catching-my-breath-i-lean-against-the-fr_1273503.jpg)

> [“When he can't take anymore, Galen plucks his phone from his pocket and dials, then hangs up. When the call is returned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/when-he-can-t-take-anymore-galen-plucks-his-phone-from-his-pocket-and/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/anna-banks-1453_cell-phone_when-he-can-t-take-anymore-galen-plucks_2356939.jpg)

> [“Taking both of my hands, he pulls me into the tide. Salt water deepens the lavender satin of my gown to almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/taking-both-of-my-hands-he-pulls-me-into-the-tide-salt-water-deepens/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/anna-banks-1453_feels_taking-both-of-my-hands-he-pulls-me-into_103545.jpg)

> [“So…it wasn’t love at first sight then? With Dad? You fell in love later?” I don’t know why I feel disappointed. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/so-it-wasn-t-love-at-first-sight-then-with-dad-you-fell-in-love-later/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/anna-banks-1453_believe-in-love_so-it-wasn-t-love-at-first-sight-then-wi_1890970.jpg)

> [“ Do you have someone in mind, Galen?" Toraf asks, popping a shrimp into his mouth. "Is it someone I know?" "Shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/do-you-have-someone-in-mind-galen-toraf-asks-popping-a-shrimp-into/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/anna-banks-1453_orange-juice_do-you-have-someone-in-mind-galen-toraf_592578.png)

> [“Footsteps from the stairwell startle him out of the past. He turns around as Emma's mother takes the last step into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/footsteps-from-the-stairwell-startle-him-out-of-the-past-he-turns/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/anna-banks-1453_children_footsteps-from-the-stairwell-startle-him_3011180.jpg)

> [“We both know Dad was my parental trash can, the fatherly receptacle on whom I dumped my emotions. Does she think because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/we-both-know-dad-was-my-parental-trash-can-the-fatherly-receptacle-on/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/anna-banks-1453_eighteen_we-both-know-dad-was-my-parental-trash-c_732423.jpg)

> [“Grom greets him with a smile full of nausea. "I'm not ready for this, little brother," he confesses. "Sure you are," Galen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/grom-greets-him-with-a-smile-full-of-nausea-i-m-not-ready-for-this/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/anna-banks-1453_feeling-guilty_grom-greets-him-with-a-smile-full-of-nau_1544056.jpg)

> [“Emma, I came out here to tell you that you don't have to mate with Grom." I raise a brow. "Uh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/emma-i-came-out-here-to-tell-you-that-you-don-t-have-to-mate-with/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/anna-banks-1453_mate_emma-i-came-out-here-to-tell-you-that-yo_597121.jpg)

> [“I'm glad you brought it up. I wasn't sure how to approach you about it, but this makes it easier for both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-m-glad-you-brought-it-up-i-wasn-t-sure-how-to-approach-you-about-it/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/anna-banks-1453_assault_i-m-glad-you-brought-it-up-i-wasn-t-sure_2390388.jpg)

> [“ The tornadic bundle of legs and arms and feet and hands push farther into the kitchen until only the occasional flailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/the-tornadic-bundle-of-legs-and-arms-and-feet-and-hands-push-farther/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/anna-banks-1453_bare-feet_the-tornadic-bundle-of-legs-and-arms-and_644947.jpg)

> [“Like a child, I close my eyes as if they can't see me either. The fire from the kiss broadcasts itself all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/like-a-child-i-close-my-eyes-as-if-they-can-t-see-me-either-the-fire/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a1/anna-banks-1453_bare-feet_like-a-child-i-close-my-eyes-as-if-they_1606960.png)

> [“Rachel left," he says, sighing. "Says she's never coming back." Galen nods. "She always says that. It's probably for the better tonight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/rachel-left-he-says-sighing-says-she-s-never-coming-back-galen-nods/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/anna-banks-1453_bad-temper_rachel-left-he-says-sighing-says-she-s-n_3203726.jpg)

> [“Others may not notice it, because an angry Toraf is truly a rare thing to behold, but Galen can practically feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/others-may-not-notice-it-because-an-angry-toraf-is-truly-a-rare-thing/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/anna-banks-1453_gaze_others-may-not-notice-it-because-an-angr_2825416.png)

> [“Galen doesn’t get truly nervous until he senses the size of the Syrena mass coming toward them. Up until this point, he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/galen-doesn-t-get-truly-nervous-until-he-senses-the-size-of-the/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/anna-banks-1453_gaze_galen-doesn-t-get-truly-nervous-until-he_3094922.jpg)

> [“But I'm pretty sure Mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend. Especially not back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/but-i-m-pretty-sure-mom-won-t-consent-to-a-field-trip-across-the/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/426/anna-banks-1453_cuss-words_but-i-m-pretty-sure-mom-won-t-consent-to_110707.jpg)

## Other authors on Right now

## More by Anna Banks

> [“I won't meet his glare. "I guess I didn't care." Telling him I meant to murder his sister probably wouldn't go over very well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-won-t-meet-his-glare-i-guess-i-didn-t-care-telling-him-i-meant-to/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“He'd live on land and eat cheesecake for the rest of his life before that happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/he-d-live-on-land-and-eat-cheesecake-for-the-rest-of-his-life-before/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“The two-man crew of the patrol boat does not speak English. Rachel exploits this as best she can, while still dumping life jackets in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/the-two-man-crew-of-the-patrol-boat-does-not-speak-english-rachel/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“When it passes us, the driver tips his cap our way, eying us as if he thinks we're up to no good-the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/when-it-passes-us-the-driver-tips-his-cap-our-way-eying-us-as-if-he/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“Taking both of my hands, he pulls me into the tide. Salt water deepens the lavender satin of my gown to almost black. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/taking-both-of-my-hands-he-pulls-me-into-the-tide-salt-water-deepens/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“But I'm pretty sure Mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend. Especially not back to Florida." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/but-i-m-pretty-sure-mom-won-t-consent-to-a-field-trip-across-the/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“Nice shack," I tell him. "Trade you." "Any day." "Really? You like it?" He seems genuinely pleased. "What's not to like?" He stands back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/nice-shack-i-tell-him-trade-you-any-day-really-you-like-it-he-seems/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“And then what?” she says, pulling her hand from Grom’s grasp. “Then Grom will mate with Mom and live happily ever after twenty thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/and-then-what-she-says-pulling-her-hand-from-grom-s-grasp-then-grom/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“She needs to think you're still a couple. And you'll need to be convincing about it, too. Lots of kissing and stuff in case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/she-needs-to-think-you-re-still-a-couple-and-you-ll-need-to-be/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“As soon as she releases me, Galen grabs my hand and I don’t even have time to gasp before he snatches me to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/as-soon-as-she-releases-me-galen-grabs-my-hand-and-i-don-t-even-have/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“After all, her motto is "Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/after-all-her-motto-is-better-to-ask-for-forgiveness-than-permission/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“I’ve never skydived, bungee-jumped, or parasailed. As I remove the headset, I try to calculate the fall and can’t. Maybe my brain is protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-ve-never-skydived-bungee-jumped-or-parasailed-as-i-remove-the/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“Mark swings his own door open and meets us by the tailgate. "Why don't we ask Emma who she's coming with? I mean, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/mark-swings-his-own-door-open-and-meets-us-by-the-tailgate-why-don-t/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“And I’m not sure how much time has passed since Galen and his best friend, Toraf, left my house to retrieve Grom. Grom, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/and-i-m-not-sure-how-much-time-has-passed-since-galen-and-his-best/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

> [“Uh, we didn't get your name. Did you get his name, Emma?" she asks, as if on cue. "I tried, Chloe. But he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/uh-we-didn-t-get-your-name-did-you-get-his-name-emma-she-asks-as-if/)

[Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/)

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                        "text": "“I nod\"Maybe.But I'm pretty sure mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend.Especially not back to Florida.\"I clamp my mouth shut so fast my teeth should be chipped. He grins.\"You think I'm hot?\" \"my mom thinks you are.\" Except, mom's not the one blushing right now.”",
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                        "text": "“His response right now wouldn't win his brother the support he needs as a new king-and it just might push his father to cut his tongue after all. And groveling at Emma's feet without a tongue would be inconvenient.”",
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                        "text": "“But the bigger part of me remembers what my dad taught me about the undertow when he was trying to coax me into the water to teach me how to swim. \"If you ever get caught in the undertow,\" he'd said, \"just let it take you. Just let it pull you right out. Whatever you do, don't fight it and waste your energy and oxygen. That's how people die. The people who don't die wait it out. The undertow lets go eventually, right when you think you can't hold your breath any longer. You just have to be patient.\" Because right now I'm caught in an undertow. And I've got to hold my breath, be patient, until it gives me my life back.”",
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                        "text": "“Now, years later, I can translate that lesson into: safe isn’t always better than sorry. Sometimes you need sorry to appreciate the safe. And sometimes safe is just plain boring. Rayna’s probably going through a combination of both right now. And who am I to say what’s right and what’s wrong? And what is the law to say how she should live? The law prohibits Half-Breeds. Am I really that bad? The law is like a one-size-fits-all T-shirt. And how often do those shirts really fit everyone?”",
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                        "text": "“Sweet pea, what did you expect?\" \"Something other than that.\" \"Well, you shouldn't have. We human girls are a bit feistier than your Syrena females-Rayna being the exception of course.\" \"But Emma's not human.\" Rachel shakes her head at him as if he's a child. \"She's been human all her life. It's all she knows. The good news is, she can't date anyone right now.\" \"Why's that?\" Because to him, it sounded like maybe Emma thought she could. \"Because she's supposed to be dating you. And if I were you, I'd mark my territory as soon as I got back to school-if you know what I mean.\" He scowls. He hadn't planned on staying in school after Emma learned the truth-the whole purpose for going was to eventually get Emma to the beach. He didn't anticipate having to teach her how to become Syrena. And he didn't anticipate that up until yesterday she actually thought she was human. In fact, there's a list the length of his fin of things he didn't anticipate. Like how thick the school books are.”",
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                        "text": "“It matters, Emma.\" He grabs my hand and pulls me to him again. \"Tell me right now. Do you care for me?\" \"If you can't tell that I'm stupid in love with you, Galen, then you aren't a very good ambassador for the hum-\" His mouth covers mine, cutting me off. This kiss isn't gentle like the first one. It's definitely not sweet. It's rough, demanding, searching. And disorienting. There's not a part of me that isn't melting against Galen, not a part that isn't combusting with his fevered touch. I accidentally moan into his lips. He takes it for his cue to life me off my feet, to pull me up to his height for more leverage. I take his groan for my cue to kiss him harder. He ignores his cell phone ringing in his pocket. I ignore the rest of the universe. Even when headlights approach, I'm willing to overlook their intrusion and keep kissing. But, prince that he is Galen is a little more refined than me at this moment. He gently pries his lips from mine and sets me down. His smile is both intoxicated and intoxicating. \"We still need to talk.”",
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                        "text": "“You mean you to tell me you don't eat fish?\" Rayna barks. \"I told you, Galen! How many times did I tell you?\" \"Rayna, be quiet,\" he says without looking at her. \"We're wasting our time here!\" She slams her fork down. \"Rayna, I said-\" \"Oh, I heard what you said. And it's about time you listened to someone else for a change.\" Now would be a good time to blackout. Or ten minutes ago, before they unveiled the seafood surprise. But I don't even feel remotely dizzy. Or tired. In fact, Rayna's ranting seems to be igniting a weird charge in the room, sparking some sort of hidden energy all around us. So when Galen stands so fast his chair falls over, I'm not surprised. I stand, too. \"Leave, Rayna. Right now,\" he grinds out. When Rayna stands, Toraf does, too. He keeps his expression neutral. I get the feeling he's used to outbursts like these. \"You're just using her as a distraction from your real responsibilities, Galen,\" she spits. \"And now you've risked us all. For her. \" “You were aware of the risks before you came, Rayna. If you feel exposed, leave,” Galen says coolly. Responsibilities? Exposed? I’m waiting for someone to admit they’re part of some violet-eye cult, and I didn’t make initiation. “I guess I don’t understand,” I say. “Oh, well, that’s a real shocker, isn’t it?” Rayna says.”",
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                        "text": "“I hope you were going to come pry your sister off my back,\" Paca clips as Rayna swims up. \"She's quite rude.\" Galen throws Rayna a look, to which she lifts her chin. \"Paca and her pudgy father over there are full of whale dung,\" Rayna informs her brothers. \"Rayna,\" Grom barks. \"Mind your manners.\" Rayna lifts her chin even higher. Here we go. \"Paca is a fraud, Grom,\" she says. \"You can't mate with her. Sorry to ruin your ceremony. Let's go, Galen.\" Paca gasps as Jagen swims up to the party, almost stuttering in his fury. \"You little...little stonefish! How dare you insult my daughter?\" Galen grabs Rayna's arm. \"What did you do?\" he hisses. She jerks her arm away and gives him a superior look. \"If Paca has the Gift of Poseidon, I have the Gift of Triton. Don't ask me what it is though, because I don't have a clue.\" \"Rayna, enough!\" Grom says, grabbing her other arm. \"Apologize. Right now.\" \"Apologize for what? Telling the truth? Sorry, not feeling it.”",
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                        "text": "“She already caused a scene with the repairmen who came to fix the shattered-by-Toraf bay window in my living room yesterday. Sure, she tried to whisper, but whispering, among many other things, isn’t her specialty, and especially not now that she sounds like she’s yodeling every sentence. But the glass installation guy did not appreciate her remark-which, in her defense, she had been trying to privately yodel to me-that his noise resembled a lobster claw. “A big one.” I can only imagine what kind of damage she would cause at school. She doesn’t know how to play things cool like Galen. Her brain doesn’t have that “inappropriate” filter, either. After all, that’s why she was left behind in the first place. If she’s not fit for the Syrena world right now, I’m not risking exposing her to the human world. Oh sure, she looks innocent enough right now, surfing the channels on the humongloid flat screen above the fireplace. But I remember not too long ago that there was a different flat screen hanging on the wall-and that it had to be replaced with the current one because she picked a fight with me that ended with a literal storm unfurling in the living room and damaging everything.”",
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                        "text": "“I need you to be serious right now.” “Probably you shouldn’t have drugged me, then.” She rolls her eyes and waves in dismissal. “It was chloroform. You’ll be fine.” “And Rayna?” She knows what I’m asking, and she nods. “She should be waking up right about now.” Mom sits back in her chair. “That girl has the personality of a mako shark.” “Says the nut job who chloroformed her own daughter.” She sighs. “One day you’ll understand why I did that. Today is obviously not that day.” “No, no, no,” I say, palming the air with the universal “don’t even” sign. “You don’t get to play the responsible parent card. Let’s not forget the little matter of the last eighteen-freaking-years, Nalia .” There. I said it. This conversation is finally going to happen.”",
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                        "text": "“But...you're not passing out, you're just sleeping? There's a difference.\" I yawn again. \"Just sleep. Maybe I just need a nap.\" He nods into my hair. \"You did look tired today after school.\" \"You can put me on the couch now.\" He doesn't move, just keeps rocking me. Staying alert is a slippery slope right now. \"Galen?\" \"Hmm?\" \"You can put me down now.\" \"I'm not ready yet.\" He tightens his hold. \"You don't have to hold-\" \"Emma? Can you hear me?\" \"Uh, yes. I can hear fine. I just can't see-\" \"That's a relief. Because for a minute there, I thought maybe you didn't hear me when I said I'm not ready yet.\" \"Jackass.\" He chuckles into my hair. \"Go to sleep.\" It's the last thing I remember.”",
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                        "text": "“Hey! Let my little sister go!” This almost stupefies Don into releasing the rope a second time, but good ole Dad catches it and pulls. “Get it together, Don! Do you know how rich we are right now? Pull her in! I’ll get the other one.” Nice. The Syrena thinks I’m human and the humans think I’m Syrena. “Let her go or I’m calling the coast guard,” I say with more confidence than I feel. After all, this young girl and I look nothing alike. She has the beautiful Syrena coloring, while I probably look like a cadaver floating in the water. But it’s worth a shot, right? “And our parents prosecute.” This is enough to season their enthusiasm with a pinch of doubt. It all unfolds in their expressions: Do mermaids talk? Do they know how to call the coast guard? Do they prosecute offenders? Did that really just happen? Don shakes his head as if he’s come out of a trance. “Don’t listen to her, Paw. That’s what mermaids do, remember? They sing fishermen to their death! Haven’t you heard the stories? And don’t look her in the eye, neither, Paw. They hypnotize you with their eyes.” Well, crap.”",
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                        "text": "“The list of correlations to that night is as long as the Jersey coast. And so is the list of reasons I shouldn't be looking forward to seeing him at school. But I can't help it. He's already texted me three times this morning: Can I pick you up for school? and Do u want 2 have breakfast? and R u getting my texts? My thumbs want to answer \"yes\" to all of the above, but my dignity demands that I don't answer at all. He called my his student. He stood there alone with me on the beach and told me he thinks of me as a pupil. That our relationship is platonic. And everyone knows what platonic means- rejected. Well, I might be his student, but I'm about to school, him on a few things. The first lesson of the day is Silent Treatment 101. So when I see him in the hall, I give him a polite nod and brush right by him. The zap from the slight contact never quite fades, which mean he's following me. I make it to my locker before his hand is on my arm. \"Emma.\" The way he whispers my name sends goose bumps all the way to my baby toes. But I'm still in control. I nod to him, dial the combination to my locker, then open it in his face. He moves back before contact. Stepping around me, he leans his hand against the locker door and turns me around to face him. \"That's not very nice.\" I raise my best you-started-this brow. He sighs. \"I guess that means you didn't miss me.\" There are so many things I could pop off right now. Things like, \"But at least I had Toraf to keep my company\" or \"You were gone?\" Or \"Don't feel bad, I didn't miss my calculus teacher either.\" But the goal is to say nothing. So I turn around. I transfer books and papers between my locker and backpack. As I stab a pencil into my updo, his breath pushes against my earlobe when he chuckles. \"So your phone's not broken; you just didn't respond to my texts.\" Since rolling my eyes doesn't make a sound, it's still within the boundaries of Silent Treatment 101. So I do this while I shut my locker. As I push past him, he grabs my arm. And I figure if stomping on his toe doesn't make a sound... \"My grandmother's dying,\" he blurts. Commence with the catching-Emma-off-guard crap. How can I continue Silent Treatment 101 after that? He never mentioned his grandmother before, but then again, I never mentioned mine either. \"I'm sorry, Galen.\" I put my hand on his, give it a gentle squeeze. He laughs. Complete jackass. \"Conveniently, she lives in a condo in Destin and her dying request is to meet you. Rachel called your mom. We're flying out Saturday afternoon, coming back Sunday night. I already called Dr. Milligan.\" \"Un-freaking-believable.”",
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                        "text": "“Mark swings his own door open and meets us by the tailgate. \"Why don't we ask Emma who she's coming with? I mean, it's her choice, right?\" The look Galen gives me is clear: Take care of this, or I will. Or maybe it's more like, It would be my pleasure to take care of this. Either way, I don't want Mark taken care of. Standing between them, the testosterone-to-air ratio is almost suffocating. If I pick Galen, the chances of Mark ever calling me again are as good as Galen eating a whole cheesecake by himself. If I choose Mark, the changes of Galen not wielding his built-in brass knuckles are as good as Rayna giving someone a compliment. My desire to salvage this date with Mark is almost as strong as my desire to salvage his face from certain disfigurement. But salvaging the date as opposed to his face would be selfish in the long run. I sigh in defeat. \"I'm sorry, Mark.\" Mark lets out a gust of air. \"Ouch.\" Scratching the back of his neck, he chuckles. \"I guess I should be more superstitious, huh?\" He's right. I screwed this up. I should have salvaged the date, his pride. And I should have broken Galen's Royal nose with my own Syrena fist. I turn to His Highness. \"Galen, could you give me a minute please? You'll have the next hour to talk to me since you're taking me straight home.\" Without a word, Galen nods and walks away. I can't quite meet Mark's eyes when I say, \"I'm so sorry. I don't know what his deal is. He never acts like this.\" Except that time he beat Toraf like a stepchild on the beach when he kissed me. But only because Toraf betrayed Rayna. Right? Mark smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. \"Can't say I blame him. I can already tell you're worth it. I just never had the guts to ask you out. Chloe threatened my life. You know that chick could hit like a man, right? She said you were too good for me. I think she was right.\" \"Wh...what? Chloe knew you liked me?\" \"Yeah. She never told you? Course not. She thought I was a player.\" I not, still too stunned that my best friend also acted as my bodyguard without me knowing. \"She did think you were a player. And she couldn't definitely hit like a man.\" \"That's what my friend Jax says anyway.\" Then a little lower, \"Geez, Galen's watching me like a hawk right now. He has serial-killer eyes, you know that?\" I giggle. \"What do you think he'd do if I kissed you good-bye on the cheek?\" he whispers conspiratorially. \"Don't worry, I'll protect you.\" He has no idea how serious I am. As he leans in, I brace myself. At the slightest spark of electricity, I'm prepared to turn around with my fists up. But the lightning doesn't strike. Galen is behaving for now. As Mark pulls away from his barely there peck, he sighs. \"Do me a favor,\" he whispers. \"Mmm?\" \"Keep my number. Give me a call if he screws up again.\" I smile. \"I will, I promise. I had a good time tonight.\" Did the date and Mark's face get salvaged? Do I have a chance to redeem myself with him? He chuckles. \"Yeah, glad we got to drive here from Middle Point together. next time, we'll make it a real adventure and take the bus. See you at school, Emma.\" \"Bye.”",
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                        "text": "“Galen picking you up for school?\" \"No, I'm driving myself.\" Vinegar turns to acid. Sure, it's irritating to take a lukewarm shower when you intended to scald the flesh from your body. But not being able to see Galen today is more disappointing than not having hot water all winter. And I hate it. Spending all of yesterday with him slaughtered my intention of keeping him at a distance. Even if he weren't worthy of his own billboard underwear ad, he's just too likeable. Except for his habit of almost-kissing me. But his obsession with trying to order me around is too cute. Especially the way his mouth gets all pouty when I don't listen. \"You two fighting already?\" She's fishing, but for what I don't know. Shrugging seems safe until I can figure out what she wants to hear. \"Do you fight often?\" Shrugging again, I ladle enough oatmeal into my mouth to make talking impossible for at least a minute, which is more than enough time for her to drop it. It doesn't work. After the exaggerated minute, I reach for my glass of milk. \"You know, if he ever hit you-\" The glass in mid-tilt, I swallow before the milk can escape through my nose. \"Mom, he would never hit me!\" \"I didn't say he would.\" \"Good, because he wouldn't. Ever. What's with you? Do you have to interrogate me about Galen every time you see me?\" This time she shrugs. \"Seems like the right thing to do. When you have children, you'll understand.\" \"I'm not stupid. If Galen acts up, I'll either dump him or kill him. You have my word.\" Mom laughs and butters my muffin. \"I guess I can't ask for more than that.\" Accepting the muffin-and the truce-I say, \"Nope. Anything more would be unreasonable.\" \"Just remember, I'm watching you like a hawk. Except for right now, because I'm going to bed.”",
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                        "text": "“As soon as she releases me, Galen grabs my hand and I don’t even have time to gasp before he snatches me to the surface and pulls me toward shore, only pausing to dislodge his pair of swimming trunks from under his favorite rock, where he had just moments before taken the time to hide them. I know the routine and turn away so he can change, but it seems like no time before he hauls me onto the beach and drags me to the sand dunes in front of my house. “What are we doing?” I ask. His legs are longer than mine so for every two of his strides I have to take three, which feels a lot like running. He stops us in between the dunes. “I’m doing something that is none of anyone else’s business.” Then he jerks me up against him and crushes his mouth on mine. And I see why he didn’t want an audience for this kiss. I wouldn’t want an audience for this kiss, either, especially if the audience included my mother. This is our first kiss after he announced that he wanted me for his mate. This kiss holds promises of things to come. When he pulls away I feel drunk and excited and nervous and filled with a craving that I’m not sure can ever be satisfied. And Galen looks startled. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that,” he says. “That makes it about fifty times harder to leave, I think.” He tucks my head under his chin and I wrap my arms around him until both our breathing returns to normal. I take the time to soak in his scent, his warmth, the hard contours of his-well, his everything. It’s really not fair that he has to leave when he’s only just gotten back. We didn’t have much time to talk on the way back home. We haven’t had much time for anything. “Emma,” he murmurs. “The water isn’t safe for you right now. Please don’t get in it. Please.” “I won’t.” I really won’t. He said please, after all. He lifts my chin with the crook of his finger. His eyes hold all the gentleness and love in the world, with a pinch of mischief. “And take good notes in calculus, or I’ll be forced to cheat off you and for some weird reason that makes me feel guilty.” I wonder what Grom the Triton king would think of that. That Galen basically just stated his intention to keep doing human things. Galen pushes his lips against my forehead, then disentangles himself from me and leads me back toward the water. My body feels ten degrees cooler when his arms fall, and it’s got nothing to do with the temperature outside. We reach the others just in time to see Rayna all but throw herself at Toraf. I can’t help but smile as they kiss. It’s like watching Beauty and the Beast. And Toraf’s not the Beast.”",
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                        "text": "“I didn't have a choice.\" \"Are you saying...What are you saying?\" Is he... could he be talking about me? He runs a hand through his hair. I've never seen him this emotional before. He's always so controlled, so sure of himself. \"I'm saying you're what I want, Emma. I'm saying I'm in love with you.\" He steps forward and lifts his hand to my cheek, blazing a line of fire with his fingertips as they trace down to my mouth. \"How do you think it would make me feel to see you with Grom?\" he whispers. \"Like someone ripped my heart out and put it through Rachel's meat grinder, that's how. Probably worse. It would probably kill me. Emma, please don't cry.\" I throw my hands in the air. \"Don't cry? Are you serious? Why did you come here, Galen? Did you think it would make me feel better to know that you do love me, but that it still won't work out? That I still have to mate with Grom for the greater good? Don't you tell me not to cry, Galen! I...c...c...can't h...h...help-\" The waterworks soak me. Galen looks at me, hands by his side, helpless as a trapped crab. I'm bordering on hyperventilation, and pretty soon I'll start hiccupping. This is too much. His expression is so severe, it looks like he's in physical pain. \"Emma,\" he breathes. \"Emma, does this mean you feel the same way? Do you care for me at all?\" I laugh, but it sounds sharper than I intended, because of a hiccup. \"What does it matter how I feel, Galen? I think we pretty much covered why. No need to rehash things, right?\" \"It matters, Emma.\" He grabs my hand and pulls me to him again. \"Tell me right now. Do you care for me?\" \"If you can't tell that I'm stupid in love with you, Galen, then you aren't a very good ambassador for the hum-\" His mouth covers mine, cutting me off. This kiss isn't gentle like the first one. It's definitely not sweet. It's rough, demanding, searching. And disorienting. There's not a part of me that isn't melting against Galen, not a part that isn't combusting with his fevered touch. I accidentally moan into his lips. He takes it for his cue to lift me off my feet, to pull me up to his height for more leverage. I take his groan for my cue to kiss him harder. He ignores his cell phone ringing in his pocket. I ignore the rest of the universe. Even when headlights approach, I'm willing to overlook their intrusion and keep kissing. But, prince that he is, Galen is a little more refined than me at this moment. He gently pries his lips from mine and sets me down. His smile is both intoxicated and intoxicating. \"We still need to talk.\" \"Right,\" I say, but I'm shaking my head. He laughs. \"I didn't come all the way to Atlantic City to make you cry.\" \"I'm not crying.\" I lean into him again. He doesn't refuse my lips, but he doesn't do them justice either, planting a measly little kiss on them before stepping back.”",
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                        "text": "“Then Toraf opens the passenger side door… Wait. That’s not Toraf. I’ve never seen this man before, yet he’s eerily familiar. His silhouette sitting next to Galen was definitely classic Syrena male, but the glare from the sun had hidden his face. I’d naturally just assumed that where there’s a Galen, there’s a Toraf. Now that his face is in full view though, I see that this man looks like a slightly older version of Galen. Slightly older as in slightly more jaded. Other than that, he could be his twin brother. It may be because he’s wearing some of Galen’s clothes, a wrinkled brown polo shirt and plaid shorts. But he shares other things, too, besides clothes. He’s handsome like Galen, with the same strong jaw and the same eyebrow shape and the way he’s wearing the same expression on his face that Galen is-that he’s found what he’s been looking for. Only, the stranger’s expression clearly divulges that he’s been looking for a lot longer than Galen has-and this man is not looking at me. And that’s when I know just exactly who he is. That’s when I believe the look in Galen’s eyes. That he didn’t lie to me, that he loves me. Because this man has to be Grom. Mom confirms it with a half cry, half growl. “No. No. It can’t be.” Even if she weren’t handcuffed to Rachel right now, I’m not sure she’d actually be able to move. Disbelief has a special way of paralyzing you. With every step the man takes toward Rachel’s car, he shakes his head more vigorously. It’s like he’s deliberately taking his time, drinking in the moment, or maybe he just can’t believe this moment is actually happening. Yep, disbelief is a cruel hag. ”",
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                        "text": "“Catching my breath, I lean against the front of the car and focus on the individual blades of grass hedging my flip-flop, trying not to throw up or pass out or both. In the far distance, a vehicle approaches-the first one to witness the scene of our accident. A million explanations run through my mind, but I can’t imagine a single scenario that would solve all-or any-of our issues right now. None of us can risk going to the hospital. Mom technically doesn’t qualify as human, so I’m sure we’d get a pretty interesting diagnosis. Rachel is technically supposed to be deceased as of the last ten years or so, and while she probably has a plethora of fake IDs, she’s still antsy around cops, which will surely be called to the hospital in the event of a gunshot wound, even if it is just in the foot. And let’s not forget that Mom and Rachel are new handcuff buddies. There just isn’t an explanation for any of this. That’s when I decide I’m not the one who should do the talking. After all, I didn’t kidnap anyone. I didn’t shoot anyone. And I certainly didn’t handcuff myself to the person who shot me. Besides, both Mom and Rachel are obviously much more skilled at deception then I’ll ever be. “If someone pulls over to help us, one of you is explaining all this,” I inform them. “You’ll probably want to figure it out fast, because here comes a car.” But the car comes and goes without even slowing. In fact, a lot of cars come and go, and if the situation weren’t so strange and if I weren’t so thankful that they didn’t actually stop, I’d be forced to reexamine what the world is coming to, not helping strangers in an accident. Then it occurs to me that maybe the passerby don’t realize it’s the scene of an accident. Mom’s car is in the ditch, but the ditch might be steep enough to hide it. It’s possible that no one can even see Rachel and Mom from the side of the road. Still, I am standing at the front of Rachel’s car. An innocent-looking teenage girl just loitering for fun in the middle of nowhere and no one cares to stop? Seriously? Just as I decide that people suck, a vehicle coming from the opposite direction slows and pulls up a few feet behind us. It’s not a good Samaritan traveler pulling over to see what he or she can do to inadvertently complicate things. It’s not an ambulance. It’s not a state trooper. If only we could be so lucky. But, nope, it’s way worse. Because it’s Galen’s SUV. From where I stand, I can see him looking at me from behind the wheel. His face is stricken and tried and relieved and pained. I want to want to want to believe the look in his eyes right now. The look that clearly says he’s found what he’s looking for, in more ways than one.”",
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                        "text": "“When he can't take anymore, Galen plucks his phone from his pocket and dials, then hangs up. When the call is returned, he says, \"Hey, sweet lips.\" The females at the table hush each other to get a better listen. A few of them whip their heads toward Emma to see if she's on the other end of the conversation. Satisfied she's not, they lean closer. Rachel snorts. \"If only you liked sweets.\" \"I can't wait to see you tonight. Wear that pink shirt I like.\" Rachel laughs. \"Sounds like you're in what we humans like to call a pickle. My poor, drop-dead-gorgeous sweet pea. Emma still not talking to you, leaving you alone with all those hormonal girls?\" \"Eight-thirty? That's so far away. Can't I meet you sooner?\" One of the females actually gets up and takes her tray and her attitude to another table. Galen tries not to get too excited. \"Do you need to be checked out of school, son? Are you feeling ill?\" Galen tosses a glance at Emma, who's picking a pepperoni off her pizza and eyeing it as if it were dolphin dung. \"I can't skip school to meet you again, boo. But I'll be thinking about you. No one but you.\" A few more females get up and stalk their trays to the trash. The cheerleader in front of him rolls her eyes and starts a conversation with the chubby brunette beside her-the same chubby brunette she pushed into a locker to get to him two hours ago. \"Be still my heart,\" Rachel drawls. \"But seriously, I can't read your signals. I don't know what you're asking me to do.\" \"Right now, nothing. But I might change my mind about skipping. I really miss you.\" Rachel clears her throat. \"All right, sweet pea. You just let your mama know, and she'll come get her wittle boy from school, okay?\" Galen hangs up. Why is Emma laughing again? Mark can't be that funny. The girl beside him clues him in: \"Mark Baker. All the girls love him. But not as much as they love you. Except maybe Emma, I guess.\" \"Speaking of all these girls, how did they get my phone number?\" She giggles. \"It's written on the wall in the girls' bathroom. One hundred hall.\" She holds her cell phone up to his face. An image of his number scrawled onto a stall door lights up the screen. In Emma's handwriting.”",
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                        "text": "“Taking both of my hands, he pulls me into the tide. Salt water deepens the lavender satin of my gown to almost black. The waves push into it, making it heavier and heavier. “Tell me when,” he says. I nod. When Galen is neck deep and I’m clinging to him to keep my head above water. When my saturated prom dress feels like an anchor grasping at my limbs. When the moon is directly overhead and makes the silver flecks in his eyes shimmer like gems. That’s when I’m ready. “Now,” I breathe. He brushes his lips against mine. Once Twice. So soft it barely feels like anything. But it also feels like everything. He pulls me under. One day, when Galen and I are mated, I’ll be a princess. But I’ll never feel more like a princess than right now, in his arms, dancing on the ocean floor. He pulls my from my trance with his lips against me ear. “Emma.” It’s silly how my own name can send tingles shooting everywhere. “Hmm?” “I’ve been thinking. About us.” He pulls away from me. “I think…I think I need a distraction.” “Um. A distraction? From me?” The words taste vinegary in my mouth. They turn sweet again when Galen throws his head back and laughs. “Emma,” he says, brushing his thumb across my bottom lip. “You are the one thing I’m sure of. Completely. Without thinking twice. But I want to get away from here for a little while. And I want you to come with me. I know you’re set on going to college in the fall. I’m only asking for the summer. Let’s go somewhere. Do something.” I float up until I’m eye level with him. “Let’s. Where will we go?” He shrugs. “I don’t care, as long as it’s away from any ocean.” “So…the desert?” He grimaces. “The mountains?” I laugh. “Deal. We’ll go to the mountains.” “You’re sure?” I pull him by the neck until our noses touch. “Completely. Without thinking twice.”",
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                        "text": "“So…it wasn’t love at first sight then? With Dad? You fell in love later?” I don’t know why I feel disappointed. I don’t even believe in love at first sight. Except where it applies to my parents being perfect for each other. And anyways, isn’t that a kind of child-myth that all kids want to believe? “Sweetie…It was never love.” Screw disappointment. Now I feel gut-kicked. “What do you mean? But you had to…Then how did I…?” Mom sighs. “You were…the result of a moment of…weakness on my part.” But she takes too long to choose her words. I wonder what she thought of first, instead of “weakness.” Pity? Stupidity? She dabs her napkin at some imaginary syrup at the corner of her mouth. “The only weak moment we ever had, which is kind of extraordinary. Not that I regret it at all,” she says quickly. “I wouldn’t trade you for anything. You know that, right?” I wonder if “I wouldn’t trade you for anything” is also a child-myth. “So I was an accident. Not even the normal kind of accident. Like, a one-night stand, or a oops-I-didn’t-take-my-pill accident. I was an oops-I-accidentally-mated-with-my-first-experiment accident.” I put my head in my hands. “Lovely.” “That man loved you, Emma, from the moment you were born. He’d be very upset to hear you talking like that right now. Frankly, I am, too. I was not some experiment.” I bite my lip. “I know. It’s just…a lot, don’t you think?” “That’s why we’re going to have two pieces of strawberry pie, Agnes,” Mom says, her voice strained. I pull my stricken face from my hands and force it to smile. “Yes, please,” I say. I’m beginning to think Agnes isn’t a waitress for financial gain. I think she needs gossip to thrive. There’s no way a normal waitress would be or should be this attentive.”",
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                        "text": "“ Do you have someone in mind, Galen?\" Toraf asks, popping a shrimp into his mouth. \"Is it someone I know?\" \"Shut up, Toraf,\" Galen growls. He closes his eyes, massages his temples. This could have gone a lot better in so many ways. \"Oh,\" Toraf says. \"It must be someone I know, then.\" \"Toraf, I swear by Triton's trident-\" \"These are the best shrimp you've ever made, Rachel,\" Toraf continues. \"I can't wait to cook shrimp on our island. I'll get the seasoning for us, Rayna.\" \"She's not going to any island with you, Toraf!\" Emma yells. \"Oh, but she is, Emma. Rayna wants to be my mate. Don't you, princess?\" he smiles. Rayna shakes her head. \"It's no use, Emma. I really don't have a choice.\" She resigns herself to the seat next to Emma, who peers down at her, incredulous. \"You do have a choice. You can come live with me at my house. I'll make sure he can't get near you.\" Toraf's expression indicates he didn't consider that possibility before goading Emma. Galen laughs. \"It's not so funny anymore is it, tadpole?\" he says, nudging him. Toraf shakes his head. \"She's not staying with you, Emma.\" \"We'll see about that, tadpole ,\" she returns. \"Galen, do something,\" Toraf says, not taking his eyes off Emma. Galen grins. \"Such as?\" \"I don't know, arrest her or something,\" Toraf says, crossing his arms. Emma locks eyes with Galen, stealing his breath. \"Yeah, Galen. Come arrest me if you're feeling up to it. But I'm telling you right now, the second you lay a hand on me, I'm busting this glass over your head and using it to split your lip like Toraf's.\" She picks up her heavy drinking glass and splashes the last drops of orange juice onto the table. Everyone gasps except Galen-who laughs so hard he almost upturns his chair. Emma's nostrils flare. \"You don't think I'll do it? There's only one way to find out, isn't there, Highness?\" The whole airy house echoes Galen's deep-throated howls. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he elbows Toraf, who's looking at him like he drank too much saltwater. \"Do you know those foolish humans at her school voted her the sweetest out of all of them?\" Toraf's expression softens as he looks up at Emma, chuckling. Galen's guffaws prove contagious-Toraf is soon pounding the table to catch his breath. Even Rachel snickers from behind her oven mitt. The bluster leaves Emma's expression. Galen can tell she's in danger of smiling. She places the glass on the table as if it's still full and she doesn't want to spill it. \"Well, that was a couple of years ago.\" This time Galen's chair does turn back, and he sprawls onto the floor. When Rayna starts giggling, Emma gives in, too. \"I guess...I guess I do have sort of a temper,\" she says, smiling sheepishly. She walks around the table to stand over Galen. Peering down, she offers her hand. He grins up at her. \"Show me your other hand.\" She laughs and shows him it's empty. \"No weapons.\" \"Pretty resourceful,\" he says, accepting her hand. \"I'll never look at a drinking glass the same way.\" He does most of the work of pulling himself up but can't resist the opportunity to touch her. She shrugs. \"Survival instinct, maybe?\" He nods. \"Or you're trying to cut my lips off so you won't have to kiss me.\" He's pleased when she looks away, pink restaining her cheeks. \"Rayna tries that all the time,\" Toraf chimes in. \"Sometimes when her aim is good, it works, but most of the time kissing her is my reward for the pain.”",
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                        "text": "“Footsteps from the stairwell startle him out of the past. He turns around as Emma's mother takes the last step into the dining area, Emma right behind her. Mrs. McIntosh glides over and puts her arm around him. The smile on her face is genuine, but Emma's smile is more like a straight line. And she's blushing. \"Galen, it's very nice to meet you,\" she says, ushering him into the kitchen. \"Emma tells me you're taking her to the beach behind your house today. To swim?\" \"Yes, ma'am.\" Her transformation makes him wary. She smiles. \"Well, good luck with getting her in the water. Since I'm a little pressed for time, I can't follow you over there, so I just need to see your driver's license while Emma runs outside to get your plate number.\" Emma rolls her eyes as she shuffles through a drawer and pulls out a pen and paper. She slams the door behind her when she leaves, which shakes the dishes on the wall. Galen nods, pulls out his wallet, and hands over the fake license. Mrs. McIntosh studies it and rummages through her purse until she produces a pen-which she uses to write on her hand. “Just need your license number in case we ever have any problems. But we’re not going to have any problems, are we, Galen? Because you’ll always have my daughter-my only daughter-home on time, isn’t that right?” He nods, then swallows. She holds out his license. When he accepts it, she grabs his wrist, pulling him close. She glances at the garage door and back to him. “Tell me right now, Galen Forza. Are you or are you not dating my daughter?” Great. She still doesn’t believe Emma. If she won’t believe them anyway, why keep trying to convince her? If she thinks they’re dating, the time he intends to spend with Emma will seem normal. But if they spend time together and tell her they’re not dating, she’ll be nothing but suspicious. Possibly even spy on them-which is less than ideal. So, dating Emma is the only way to make sure she mates with Grom. Things just get better and better. “Yes,” he says. “We’re definitely dating.” She narrows her eyes. “Why would she tell me you’re not?” He shrugs. “Maybe she’s ashamed of me.” To his surprise, she chuckles. “I seriously doubt that, Galen Forza.” Her humor is short lived. She grabs a fistful of his T-shirt. “Are you sleeping with her?” Sleeping… Didn’t Rachel say sleeping and mating are the same thing? Dating and mating are similar. But sleeping and mating are the same exact same. He shakes his head. “No, ma’am.” She raises a no-nonsense brow. “Why not? What’s wrong with my daughter?” That is unexpected. He suspects this woman can sense a lie like Toraf can track Rayna. All she’s looking for is honesty, but the real truth would just get him arrested. I’m crazy about your daughter-I’m just saving her for my brother. So he seasons his answer with the frankness she seems to crave. “There’s nothing wrong with your daughter, Mrs. McIntosh. I said we’re not sleeping together. I didn’t say I didn’t want to.” She inhales sharply and releases him. Clearing her throat, she smoothes out his wrinkled shirt with her hand, then pats his chest. “Good answer, Galen. Good answer.” Emma flings open the garage door and stops short. “Mom, what are you doing?” Mrs. McIntosh steps away and stalks to the counter. “Galen and I were just chitchatting. What took you so long?” Galen guesses her ability to sense a lie probably has something to do with her ability to tell one. Emma shoots him a quizzical look, but he returns a casual shrug. Her mother grabs a set of keys from a hook by the refrigerator and nudges her daughter out of the way, but not before snatching the paper out of her hand.”",
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                        "text": "“We both know Dad was my parental trash can, the fatherly receptacle on whom I dumped my emotions. Does she think because she offered me a blanket and chocolate-covered whatever that I'll just hand over the keys to my inner diary? Uh, no. \"I know you're eighteen now,\" she huffs. \"I get it, okay? But you don't know everything. And you know what? I don't like secrets.\" My head spins. The first day of the Rest of My Normal Life is not turning out as planned. I shake my head. \"I guess I still don't understand what you're asking me.\" She stomps her foot. \"How long have you been dating him, Emma? How long have you and Galen been an item?\" Ohmysweetgoodness . \"I'm not dating Galen,\" I whisper. \"Why would you even think that?\" \"Why would I think that? Maybe you should ask Mrs. Strickland. She's the one who told me how intimate you looked standing there in the hall. And she said Galen was beside himself when you wouldn't wake up. That he kept squeezing your hand.\" Intimate? I let my backpack slide off my shoulder and onto the floor before I plot to the table and sit down. The room feels like a giant merry-go-round. I am...embarrassed? No. Embarrassed is when you spill ketchup on your crotch and it leaves a red stain in a suspicious area. Mortified? No. Mortified is when you experiment with tanning lotion and forget to put some on your feet, so it looks like you're wearing socks with your flip-flops and sundress. Bewildered? Yep. That's it. Bewildered that after I screamed at him-oh yes, now I remember I screamed at him-he picked up my limp body, carried me all the way to the office, and stayed with me until help arrived. Oh, and he held my hand and sat beside me, too. I cradle my face in my hands, imagining how close I came to going to school without knowing this. How close I came to walking up to Galen, telling him to take his tingles and shove them where every girl's thoughts have been since he got there. I groan into my laced fingers. \"I can never face him again,\" I say to no one in particular. Unfortunately, Mom thinks I'm talking to her. \"Why? Did he break up with you?\" She sits down next to me and pulls my hands from my face. \"Is it because you wouldn't sleep with him?\" \"Mom!\" I screech. \"No!\" She snatches her hand away. \"You mean you did sleep with him?\" Her lips quiver. This can't be happening. \"Mom, I told you, we're not dating!\" Shouting is a dumb idea. My heartbeat ripples through my temples. \"You're not even dating him and you slept with him?\" She's wringing her hands. Tears puddle in her eyes. One Mississippi...two Mississippi... Is she freaking serious? ...Three Mississippi...four Mississippi... Because I swear I'm about to move out... Five Mississippi...six Mississippi... I might as well sleep with him if I'm going to be accused of it anyway... Seven Mississippi...eight Mississippi... Ohmysweetgoodness, did I really just think that? ...Nine Mississippi...ten Mississippi... Talk to your mother-now. I keep my voice polite when I say, \"Mom, I haven't slept with Galen, unless you count laying on the nurse's bed unconscious beside him. And we are not dating. We have never dated. Which is why he wouldn't need to break up with me. Have I missed anything?\" \"What were you arguing about in the hall, then?\" \"I actually don't remember. All I remember is being mad at him. Trust me, I'll find out. But right now, I'm late for school.\" I ease out of the chair and over to my backpack on the floor. Bending over is even stupider than shouting. I wish my head would just go ahead and fall off already.”",
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                        "text": "“Grom greets him with a smile full of nausea. \"I'm not ready for this, little brother,\" he confesses. \"Sure you are,\" Galen laughs, slapping his brother's back. Grom shakes his head. \"It feels like...like I'm betraying her. Nalia.\" Galen stiffens. Oh. He doesn't feel qualified to talk Grom out of this kind of mood. \"I'm sure she would understand,\" he offers. Grom studies him thoughtfully. \"I'd like to think she would. But you didn't know Nalia. She had an amazing temper.\" He chuckles. \"I keep looking over my shoulder, expecting to see her ready to bludgeon me with something for mating with someone else.\" Galen frowns, unsure of what to say. Grom chuckles. \"I'm joking, of course.\" Then he shrugs. \"Well, half joking, anyway. I swear I've been sensing her lately, Galen. It feels so real. It takes all I've got not to follow the pulse. Do you think I'm losing my mind?\" Galen shakes his head out of obligation. Secretly though, he thinks he might be. \"I'm sure you're just feeling guilty. Er...not that you have a reason to feel guilty. Uh, it's just natural that you feel that way before your mating ceremony. Nerves and all.\" Galen runs a hand through his hair. \"I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this sort of thing.\" \"What sort of thing? Being mature?\" Grom smirks. \"Funny.\" \"Maybe you should spend some more time on land, then come back and talk to me. Being on land ages you, you know. Might do you some good.\" Galen snorts. Now you tell me. \"I heard.\" Out of nowhere, Grom grabs Galen's face and wrestles him into a hold. Galen hates it when he does this. \"Let me see that cute little face of yours, minnow. Yep, just like I thought. Your eyes are turning blue. How much time have you been spending on land? Please tell me you're not head over fin for a human?\" Then he laughs and releases him just as suddenly. Galen stares at him. \"What do you mean?\" \"I was just teasing, minnow. Giving you a hard time.\" \"I know but...why did you say my eyes are turning blue? What does that have to go with the humans?\" Grom waves a dismissive hand at him. \"Forget it. I think you might be more uptight than me right now. I said I was just kidding.”",
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                        "text": "“Emma, I came out here to tell you that you don't have to mate with Grom.\" I raise a brow. \"Uh, I was never going to mate with Grom.\" \"What I mean is, Grom is mating with someone else who has the gift of Poseidon. Which means that-\" \"I don't have to mate with Grom,\" I finish for him. \"That's what I just said.\" \"I mean, I don't have to feel like I've let the entire species of Syrena go extinct because I won't mate with Grom.\" He grins. \"Exactly.\" \"But that doesn't change what I am-a Half-Breed. You still can't be with me, can you?\" He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, thoughtful. \"The law forbids it right now. But I think if we give it time, we could get it overturned somehow. And I'm not going anywhere until I do.\" He turns us toward the SUV, stopping to retrieve my heels from the side of the road. He helps me in the passenger seat of the Escalade, then hands me my shoes. \"Thank you,\" I tell him as he walks around to the driver's side. \"It's a little late to blush,\" he says, strapping in. \"I don't think I'll ever stop blushing.\" \"I really hope not,\" he says, shutting his door. Taking my face into both hands, he pulls me to him again. His lips brush mine, but I want more. Sensing my intention, he puts his hand over mine and the seat belt I'm trying to unsnap. \"Emma,\" he says against my lips. \"I've missed you so much. But we can't. Not yet.\" I'm not trying to do that , I just want to get in a better position to accept his lips. Telling him so would just embarrass us both. But he says yet. What does that mean? That he wants to wait until he can get the law overturned? Or will he give it time, and if it doesn't work out, break Syrena law to be with me? For some reason, I don't want the answer bad enough to ask. Images of \"that girl\" flare up in my head. I don't want Galen to break his laws-it's a big part of why I love him so much. His loyalty to his people, his commitment to them. It's the kind of devotion almost nonexistent among humans. But I don't want to be \"that girl\" either. Syrena or not, I want to go to college. I want to experience the world above and below sea level. But it's not like any decisions need to be made right now, do they? I mean, life-changing decisions take time to make. Time and meditation. And physical space between my lips and his. I pull back. \"Right. Sorry.\" He seizes a few tendrils of my hair and runs them along his face, grinning. \"Not as sorry as I am. You'll have to help me keep my hands off you.\" I laugh, even as a charge runs through my veins. \"Yeah. No.\" He laughs too and turns to start the car, then stops. Letting go of the keys, he says, \"So. About breaking up.\" \"Let me think about it some more,\" I tell him on the brink of giggling at his expression. \"I'll see what I can do to help you make up your mind.\" We stay parked for another fifteen minutes. But at least we're not broken up anymore.”",
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                        "text": "“I'm glad you brought it up. I wasn't sure how to approach you about it, but this makes it easier for both of us, don't you think? And if you keep cooperating, I'm sure I can get you leniency.\" I gulp. \"Leniency?\" \"Yes, Emma. Of course you realize I could arrest you right now. You understand that, right?\" Ohmysweetgoodness, he came all this way to press assault charges against me! Is he going to sue me, sue my family? I'm eighteen now. I could legally be sued. The heat on my cheeks is part kill-me-now embarrassment and part where's-a-knife-when-you-need-one rage. \"But it was an accident!\" I hiss. \" An accident? You've got to be kidding me.\" He pinches the bridge of his nose. \"No, I am not kidding. Why would I ram into you on purpose? I don't even know you! And anyways, how do I know you didn't run into me , huh?\" The idea is preposterous, but it leaves room for reasonable doubt. I can see by his expression he didn't think of that. \"What?\" He is struggling to follow, but what did I expect? He can't even find his class in a school with only three halls. That he found me clear across the country seems more miraculous than a push-up bra. \"I said, you'll have to prove that I ran into you on purpose. That I meant to cause you harm. And besides, I checked with you at the time-\" \"Emma.\" \"-and you said you didn't have injuries-\" \"Emma.\" \"-but the only witness I have on my side is dead-\" \"EM-MA.\" \"Did you hear me, Galen?\" I turn around and yell at the remaining spectators in the hall as the bell rings. \"CHLOE IS DEAD!\" Sprinting is not a good idea for me in the first place. Sprinting with tears blurring my vision, even worse. But sprinting with tears blurring my vision and while wearing flip-flops is a lack of respect for human life, starting with my own. So then, I am not surprised when the door to the cafeteria opens into my face. I am a little surprised when everything goes black.”",
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                        "text": "“ The tornadic bundle of legs and arms and feet and hands push farther into the kitchen until only the occasional flailing limb is visible from the living room, where I can’t believe I’m still standing. A spectator in my own life, I watch the supernova of my two worlds colliding: Mom and Galen. Human and Syrena. Poseidon and Triton. But what can I do? Who should I help? Mom, who lied to me for eighteen years, then tried to shank my boyfriend? Galen, who forgot this little thing called “tact” when he accused my mom of being a runaway fish-princess? Toraf, who…what the heck is Toraf doing, anyway? And did he really just sack my mom like an opposing quarterback? The urgency level for a quick decision elevates to right-freaking-now. I decide that screaming is still best for everyone-it’s nonviolent, distracting, and one of the things I’m very, very good at. I open my mouth, but Rayna beats me to it-only, her scream is much more valuable than mine would have been, because she includes words with it. “Stop it right now, or I’ll kill you all!” She pushed past me with a decrepit, rusty harpoon from God-knows-what century, probably pillaged from one of her shipwreck excursions. She waves it at the three of them like a crazed fisherman in a Jaws movie. I hope they don’t notice she’s got it pointed backward and that if she fires it, she’ll skewer our couch and Grandma’s first attempt at quilting. It works. The bare feet and tennis shoes stop scuffling-out of fear or shock, I’m not sure-and Toraf’s head appears at the top of the counter. “Princess,” he says, breathless. “I told you to stay outside.” “Emma, run!” Mom yells. Toraf disappears again, followed by a symphony of scraping and knocking and thumping and cussing. Rayna rolls her eyes at me, grumbling to herself as she stomps into the kitchen. She adjusts the harpoon to a more deadly position, scraping the popcorn ceiling and sending rust and Sheetrock and tetanus flaking onto the floor like dirty snow. Aiming it at the mound of struggling limbs, she says, “One of you is about to die, and right now I don’t really care who it is.” Thank God for Rayna. People like Rayna get things done. People like me watch people like Rayna get things done. Then people like me round the corner of the counter as if they helped, as if they didn’t stand there and let everyone they love beat the shizzle out of one another. I peer down at the three of them all tangled up. Crossing my arms, I try to mimic Rayna’s impressive rage, but I’m pretty sure my face is only capable of what-the-crap-was-that. Mom looks up at me, nostrils flaring like moth wings. “Emma, I told you to run,” she grinds out before elbowing Toraf in the mouth so hard I think he might swallow a tooth. Then she kicks Galen in the ribs. He groans, but catches her foot before she can re-up. Toraf spits blood on the linoleum beside him and grabs Mom’s arms. She writhes and wriggles, bristling like a trapped badger and cussing like sailor on crack. Mom has never been girlie. Finally she stops, her arms and legs slumping to the floor in defeat. Tears puddle in her eyes. “Let her go,” she sobs. “She’s got nothing to do with this. She doesn’t even know about us. Take me and leave her out of this. I’ll do anything.” Which reinforces, right here and now, that my mom is Nalia. Nalia is my mom. Also, holy crap. ”",
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                        "text": "“Like a child, I close my eyes as if they can't see me either. The fire from the kiss broadcasts itself all over me in the form of a full-body blush. Galen laughs. \"There it is,\" he says, running his thumb over my bottom lip. \" That is my favorite color. Wow.\" I'm going to kill him. \"Galen. Please. Come. With. Me,\" I coke out. Gliding past him, my bare feet slap against the tile until I'm stomping on carpet in the hallway, then up the stairs. I can tell by the prickles on my skin that he's following like a good dead fish. As I reach the ladder to the uppermost level, I nod to him to keep following before I hoist myself up. Pacing the room until he gets through the trap door, I count more Mississipis than I've ever counted in my whole life. He closes the door and locks it shut but makes no move to come closer. Still, for a person who's about to die, he seems more amused than he should. I point my finger at him, but can't decide what to accuse him of first, so I put it back down. After several moments of this, he breaks the silence. \"Emma, calm down.\" \"Don't tell me what to do, Highness.\" I dare him with my eyes to call me \"boo.\" Instead of the apology I'm looking for, his eyes tell me he's considering kissing me again, right now. Which is meant to distract me. Tearing my gaze from his mouth, I stride to the window seat and move the mountains of pillows on it. Making myself comfortable, I lean my head against the window. He knows as well as I do that if we had a special spot, this would be it. For me to sit here without him is the worst kind of snub. In the reflection, I see him run his hand through his hair and cross his arms. After a few more minutes, he shifts his weight to the other leg. He knows what I want. He knows what will earn him entrance to the window seat and my good graces. I don't know if it's Royal blood or manly pride that keeps him from apologizing, but his extended delay just makes me madder. Now I won't accept an apology. Now, he must grovel. I toss a satisfied smirk into the reflection only to find he's not there anymore. His hand closes around my arm and he jerks me up against him. His eyes are stormy, intense. \"You think I'm going to apologize for kissing you?\" he murmurs. \"I. Yes. Uh-huh.\" Don't look at his mouth! Say something intelligent. \"We don't have any clothes on.\" Fan-flipping-tastic. I meant to say he shouldn't kiss me in front of everyone, especially half naked. \"Mmm,\" he says, pulling me closer. Brushing his lips against my ear, he says, \"I did happen to notice that. Which is why I shouldn't have followed you up here.”",
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                        "text": "“Rachel left,\" he says, sighing. \"Says she's never coming back.\" Galen nods. \"She always says that. It's probably for the better tonight, though.\" They both wince as Rayna plants the ball of her foot in Emma's back, splaying her across the sea of shards. \"I taught her that,\" Toraf says. \"It's a good move.\" Neither of the combatants seem to care about the rain, lightning, or the whereabouts of their hostess. The storm billows in, drenching the furniture, the TV, the strange art on the wall. No wonder Rachel didn't want to see this. She fussed over this stuff for days. \"So, it kind of threw me when she said she didn't like fish,\" Toraf says. \"I noticed. Surprised me, too, but everything else is there.\" \"Bad temper.\" \"The eyes.\" \"That white hair is shocking though, isn't it?\" \"Yeah, I like it. Shut up.\" Galen throws a sideways glare at his friend, whose grin makes him ball his fists. \"Hard bones and thick skin, obviously. There's no sign of blood. And she took some pretty hard hits from Rayna,\" Toraf continues neutrally. Galen nods, relaxes his fists. \"Plus, you feel the pull-\" Toraf is greeted with a forceful shove that sends him skidding on one foot across the slippery marble floor. Laughing, he comes back to stand beside Galen again. \"Jackass,\" Galen mutters. \"Jackass? What's a jackass?\" \"Not sure. Emma called me that today when she was irritated with me.\" \"You're insulting me in human-talk now? I'm disappointed in you, minnow.\" Toraf nods toward the girls. \"Shouldn't we break this up soon?\" \"I don't think so. I think they need to work this out on their own.\" \"What about Emma's head?\" Galen shrugs. \"Seems fine right now. Or she wouldn't have bashed the window into pieces with her forehead.”",
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                        "text": "“Others may not notice it, because an angry Toraf is truly a rare thing to behold, but Galen can practically feel the animosity emanating from his friend. Which is why he casually bumps into him, taking care to be overly apologetic. “Oh, sorry about that, minnow. I didn’t even see you there.” Galen mimics Toraf’s demeanor, crossing his arms and staring ahead of them. What they’re supposed to be staring at, he’s not sure. His effort is rewarded with a slight upward curve of his friend’s mouth. “Oh, don’t think twice about it, tadpole. I know it must be difficult to swim straight with a whale’s tail.” Galen scowls, taking care not to glance down at his fin. Ever since they went to retrieve Grom, he’s been sore all below the waist, but he’d just attributed it to tension from finding Nalia, and then the whole tribunal mess-not to mention, hovering in place for hours at a time. Still, he did examine his fin the evening before, hoping to massage out any knots he found, but was a bit shocked to see that his fin span seemed to have widened. He decided that he was letting his imagination get the better of him. Now he’s not so sure. “What do you mean?” he says lightly. Toraf nods down toward the sand. “You know what I mean. Looks like you have the red fever.” “The red fever bloats you all over, idiot. Right before it kills you. It doesn’t make your fin grow wider. Besides, the red tide hasn’t been bad for years now.” But Toraf already knows what the red fever looks like. Not long after he first became a Tracker, Toraf was commissioned to find an older Syrena who had gone off on his own to die after he’d been caught in what the humans call the red tide. Toraf was forced to tie seaweed around the old one’s fin and pull his body to the Cave of Memories. No, he doesn’t think I have the red fever. Toraf allows himself a long look at Galen’s fin. If it were anyone else, Galen would consider it rude. “Does it hurt?” “It’s sore.” “Have you asked anyone about it?” “I’ve had other things on my mind.” Which is the truth. Galen really hadn’t given it much thought until right now. Now that it has been noticed by someone else. Toraf pulls his own fin around and after a few seconds of twisting and bending, he’s able to measure it against his torso. It spans from his neck to where his waist turns into velvety tail. He nods to Galen to do the same. Galen is horrified to find that his fin now spans from the top of his head to well below his waist. It really does look like a whale tail. “I don’t know how I feel about that,” Toraf says, thoughtful. “I’ve gotten used to having the most impressive fin out of the two of us.” Galen grins, letting his tail fall. “For a minute there I thought you really cared.” Toraf shrugs. “Being self-conscious doesn’t suit you.” Galen follows his gaze back out into the sea ahead of them. “So what do you think about yesterday’s tribunal?” “I think I know where Nalia and Emma get their temper.” Galen laughs. “I thought Jagen was going to pass out when Antonis grabbed him.” “He’s not very good at interacting with others anymore, is he?” “I wonder if he ever was. I told you how crazy Nalia always acted. Could be a family trait.” It looks like Toraf might actually smile but instead his gaze jerks back out to sea, a new scowl on his face. “Oh, no,” Galen groans. “What is it?” Please don’t say Emma. Please don’t say Emma. “Rayna,” Toraf says through clenched teeth. “She’s heading straight for us.” That’s almost as bad. ”",
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                        "text": "“Galen doesn’t get truly nervous until he senses the size of the Syrena mass coming toward them. Up until this point, he’d been worried about Emma. What she thought about all this. Her mother’s reunion with Grom. What she planned to do while they were gone. Whether or not she was going to keep her promise and stay out of the water. And…his thoughts keep wandering back to their kiss between the sand dunes. It was an exquisite torture, the way she tasted like a mixture of salt water and herself. A combination of two things he’s come to cherish. Water and land. Syrena world and human world. Love for his kind and love for Emma. Only now, as the party of Syrena approaches, its presence seems to encroach on Galen’s options. For some reason, it feels like a choice between water or land, Syrena world or human world, love for his kind or love for Emma. According to the law, there never was a choice. But that was before Emma. And Galen has the feeling that the time for truly deciding between the two is closing in on him. But haven’t I already made that decision? He steals a glance at Toraf, who’s been wearing the same grim expression since they left Emma’s house. Toraf is never grim. Since they were fingerlings, he’s always had a special talent for finding the positive in a situation, and if not the positive, then he can certainly find mischief in a situation. But not now. Now he’s keeping to himself. Toraf never keeps to himself. Even Grom, the usual sealed-up clam, has become boisterous and enlivened while he and Nalia chatter to each other, laughing and whispering and holding hands, all the while speculating over the events that separated them so long ago. But Toraf seems oblivious to the chatter and to Galen’s internal war of emotions and to the swarm of jellyfish he just narrowly avoided. Galen had thought Toraf might have been anxious about leaving Rayna behind. Usually, though, he comforts himself by talking about her until Galen wishes he’d had a twin brother instead of a twin sister. No, what’s troubling Toraf has nothing to do with leaving Rayna behind. He even persuaded her to stay. Which means he thinks it’s safer for her on land right now. Toraf’s motives are always simple: do what’s best for Rayna, in spite of Rayna.”",
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                        "text": "“But I'm pretty sure Mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend. Especially not back to Florida.\" I clamp my mouth shut so fast my teeth should be chipped. He grins. \"You think I'm hot?\" \"My mom thinks you are.\" Except, Mom's not the one blushing right now. \"Hmm,\" he says, giving me a you're-busted look. \"As hot as I am, I don't think she'd buy into my charm on this one. We'll have to call in a professional.\" Then that fish prince actually winks at me. \"You mean Rachel,\" I say, toeing the sand. \"I guess it's worth a shot. Don't expect much, though. I've already missed too much school.\" \"We could fly down on the weekend. Be back before school on Monday.\" I nod. \"She might go for that. If Rachel plays her cards right.\" Yeah, she might go for that. She might also pierce her tongue, dye her hair cherry red and spike it peacock-style. Ain't happening. I shrug. \"I'll just keep practicing while you're gone. Maybe we don't have to go-\" \"No!\" Galen and Toraf shout, startling me. \"Why not? I won't go too deep-\" \"Out of the question,\" Galen says, standing. \"You will not get in the water while I'm gone.\" I stomp a hole in the sand. \"I already told you that you're not ordering me around, didn't I? Now you've pretty much guaranteed that I'm getting in the water, Your Highness.\" Galen runs a hand through his hair and utters a string of cuss words, courtesy of Rachel, no doubt. he paces in the sane a few seconds, pinching the bridge of his nose. Suddenly he stops. Relaxes. Smiles even. He walks over to his friend, slaps him on the back. \"Toraf, I need a favor.”",
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